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Rex Ross Author

Level 1

72 points

Qmaster Cluster Tests

From all reports (and confirmed by my experience) Qmaster Clusters in Compressor 4 leave a lot to be desired.

After several hours of puttering around, I finally got clusters to work. Here is the set up.

Two iMac 27 systems, each with 8 cores.

Cluster was set to use all 16 cores.

Video to be run through Compressor 4 was 5 minutes of 720p.

Test using cluster with all 16 cores took 11 minutes to render. (And I was able to monitor all 16 cores in action with Qmaster Admin panel.)

Test using This Computer Only took 5 minutes to render.

Not quite what I expected.

Perhaps the network overhead of distributing a 5 minute video made up the difference.

I am rerunning test today with a 30 minute video to see timing.

Does anyone see anything I may be missing here?

iMac (27-inch Mid 2010), Mac OS X (10.6.8), + 21 inch Cinema Display

Posted on Jan 20, 2013 8:09 AM

18 replies

Rex Ross Author

Level 1

72 points

Jan 28, 2014 5:58 AM in response to Knochenfuarz

Interesting question.

I have a new iMac 27 and an older iMac 27. I use the older one as a second screen to give me a two screen setup.

It's great.

The older one can also be used as a cluster machine. I don't do this as I have concluded that clusters are more trouble than they are worth and my new 27 inch iMac is very fast anyway.

In order to use my older iMac as a second screen, I obtained a special cable rom Apple (can't remember its name).

This cable has thunderbolt connections on each end but is a special cable just for auxillliary screen use.

Command-F2 is the keyboard sequence which toggles between the older iMac looking like a secondary display and it looking like an independent iMac.

Talt to Apple support about what cable is necessary and you whould be able to set up your second mac ok.

Jan 28, 2014 6:13 AM in response to Rex Ross

I think i have to choose the Mini-Display-Port Cable... the 2010 Modell hasn't a thunderbolt port ...

Awwwr i just want to use the Power of Both... it would be cheaper to sell the old one and buy an Display ... but the possibility to use the power ....

Jan 29, 2014 1:46 AM in response to Rex Ross

Hi, Just two more things (useful TIPS) to consider for legacy Compressor/Qmaster prev 4.1 (2013)

I'd reconmend again using a DEDICATED subnet network interfcae) if you can. IF WIFI and other slower NIC are in the mix, mounts/sharing and performance will be impacted (from your screen images)
TRANSCODE takes takes in Compressor V3 and V4.0 ?: Oh the old gem in the legacy compressors and worth a Look
- SELECT the JOB in the Compressor.app 3. and V4.0 UI
- Qmaster/Compressor inspector (4th icon over maybe) and TURN OFF FRAME CONTROLS!

Worth a look

Qmaster Cluster Tests